Chesterfield V4P

02/11/2024

https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/helping-your-pet-cope-with-firework-season/

Are you prepared for firework season for your dog? Find out how to help your dog to cope with sudden and loud noises this firework season with our helpful advice.

31/10/2024

Boo!🎃
Happy Halloween from the team here at Chesterfield Vets4Pets🎃👻🖤🧡
Below are a few tips to keep your pet happy and safe tonight, we hope you have a great night and remember to keep yourselves safe as well as your pets 🎃🧡🖤
Tips for Halloween🎃 : https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/halloween/
Tips for autumn 🍂: https://www.vets4pets.com/pet-health-advice/autumn-health-advice/

30/10/2024

‼️ALL of our Red Dingo range has been discounted 20%.
While stocks last- we won’t be stocking the Red Dingo range in practice again so grab them while you can‼️

We have a range of lead sizes - from S,M,L.

30/10/2024

This beautiful baby Lexi came in today for her 2nd vaccinations and stole all of our hearts!❤️

Can anyone guess what breed she is? 🐾🐶

29/10/2024

Bonfire Night is officially one week away!

Have you noticed that some pets react to the challenges of Bonfire Night, while others don’t? There are lots of factors that can increase or decrease the likelihood a pet will be affected, including:
🐱🐶Personality and general temperament – are they nervous about other things too?
🐱🐶Breed and genetics – were their parents outgoing or nervous, for example?
🐱🐶Age – this could be due to changes in hearing or the increased chance they have a degree of pain due to arthritic changes
🐱🐶Underlying medical conditions that can exacerbate noise phobia
🐱🐶Early experiences with fireworks and loud noises

Prevention is better than cure. So, if you have a new puppy, kitten, dog or cat, consider:
‼Making sure you properly socialise and habituate your new pet to a variety of situations
‼Not walking a puppy/dog after dark or taking it outdoors when there are firework displays
‼Keeping kittens/cats inside (remembering to provide a litter tray)
‼Letting the pet come to you if they need reassurance, but acting normally and remaining upbeat
‼Putting the TV or radio on to mask the sounds or playing classical music
‼Giving them a puzzle feeder, scattering feed or playing with them when the fireworks start to build positive associations with the noise
‼Letting your pet hide if they wish
‼Making sure you provide high hiding spaces for kittens/cats

The key is not to panic. You can discuss pheromonatherapy with your veterinary nurse, as this may help decrease your pet’s anxiety levels (for example- pet remedy spray), or book in with our vet to discuss medication if necessary. And remember, once this year’s festivities are out of the way, you can start preparing for next year.💜🎆

22/10/2024

Barry is on shift this morning! (Looking thrilled😀)

17/10/2024

Our four-legged friends depend on us for their safety, health and happiness, so it’s important to take steps to promote their health and wellness at all times. National Pet Wellness Month may be celebrated in October, but it’s a lifelong commitment that should be promoted all year long!🐶🐱🐹🐰

Here are things that are important for keeping your pets happy and healthy:

1. Proper nutrition and food🥬🥦

2. Weight control⚖️

3. Getting plenty of exercise 🏃🏼‍♀️‍➡️

4. Checking their teeth🦷

5. Grooming 💅🏽

“My pet seems healthy, why should I bring them in?”

It is important to have a vet check with your vet once or twice a year, even when your pet appears to be perfectly healthy. These wellness checkups help your pet achieve and maintain their ideal health.

By bringing your healthy animal to routinely visit your vet, you are giving your vet the chance to assess your pet's general health and well-being, test your pet for illness and disease and assess them for conditions that respond best to treatments in their earliest stages.

During the checkup, your vet has two goals: to prevent health conditions from developing where possible and to spot early symptoms of diseases so that they can be treated before they develop into more serious problems.

❤️Happy national pet wellness month!❤️-remember if you have any concerns over your pets health please don’t hesitate to call us on 01246 269666.

15/10/2024

🐾❤️🌈In remembrance of those who passed over the rainbow bridge in September 🐾 ❤️ 🌈

🐱 Lord Dave Vadar
🐱 Evie
🐶 Pippa
🐶 Fenris
🐶 Monty
🐀 Eivor
🐶 Bella
🐶 Juke
🐶 Daisy
🐱 Ebony
🐶 Memphis
🐱 Cookie
🐱 Daisy
🐹Lilo
🐱 Molly
🐶 Marley
🐱 Jack (Blackie)
🐱 Tommy
🐰 Meeple

🐾❤️🌈If you would like a name adding to our remembrance post, please let us know🐾❤️🌈

14/10/2024

‼️We have noticed an increase in the number of appointments being missed recently, this is the count for SEPTEMBER only. These are not just routine appointments- we have had no shows for emergency appointments as well.‼️

📞 Please contact us at your earliest convenience if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, we will be happy to rearrange it for you📞

🐾 This is to help provide the best service possible for all of our clients, and to help ensure everyone is seen as and when required 🐾

10/10/2024

Only 3 weeks to go! Halloween is a time for fun, scares, sweets and laughs amongst most families, but it can pose certain threats and risks to our pets. We don't want your fun to end, so here's a few tips on what to look out for, and how to help keeps your pets safe.🧐🦇🐾

🐾SURROUNDINGS🐾
It's a good idea to make sure your pet is used to the sounds of people knocking on the door and visiting the house to avoid distressing them. It’s recommended that you also create a safe space for them to retreat to. Keep your dog in a cosy, quiet area of the house away from the door so they can't hear the knocking and regular visitors frequenting the house.

⚠TOXICITIES⚠
🍫-Chocolate- contains a chemical called theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs, as well as other animals such as cats, rodents and rabbits. Generally speaking, the darker and more expensive the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains, and therefore the more poisonous it is.
🍭🍬-Sweets-If available in large quantities, some dogs may gorge themselves on sugary sweets. After eating lots of sugar, dogs can develop pancreatitis, which may cause them to be off their food, develop vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and go into organ failure. Cats don't digest sugar very efficiently. If your furry friend eats sugar, you might see vomiting, diarrhoea, and discomfort. Some sugar-free sweets and chewing gums contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which can be very poisonous to dogs. Xylitol can cause an otherwise healthy dog’s blood sugar level to drop to dangerous levels and can also cause liver failure.
‼If eaten, sweet wrappers, lollipop sticks, food containers/boxes, or even small parts from a Halloween costume can all cause an obstruction in your pets' stomach. This can be very dangerous and may require surgical intervention. Signs of an obstruction may include your pet being off their food, vomiting, lethargy and not defecating or finding it difficult to defecate. If you suspect your pet has eaten anything, do not hesitate to call us immediately on 01246 269666, or if it is out of our opening hours- call Chesterfield Vetsnow on 01246 930562

03/10/2024

Not much beats an Autumn's day dog walk. We all love breathing in that cool, fresh air whilst kicking through fallen leaves with our canine companions. But amidst its colourful beauty, Autumn can pose many health threats to our dogs. We aim to make our clients fully aware of the dangers posed during Autumn time, to help reduce the risk of any accidents occurring, and to have our clients fully educated on what to do if an accident does occur.🐾🥰

‼️ACORNS‼️
Acorns are the nuts of the oak tree. Like conkers, they fall from the trees in late September-early October. Acorns contain tannins which are toxic to dogs. If ingested, they cause stomach upsets and can also cause liver and kidney damage.
⚠️Affected dogs show signs such as:
-Vomiting
-Diarrhoea
-Lethargy
-Abdominal pain
Although acorns are too small to cause an intestinal obstruction in most dogs, acorns can be a choking hazard.
"how can i prevent this?"-Do not encourage your dog to play with conkers or acorns. If you think they might have eaten one, give us a call immediately.

‼️FALLEN LEAVES AND FERMENTING FRUIT‼️
Piles of leaves and dropped fruit can contain heavy growths of bacteria and mould. Rotting fruit can also produce natural alcohol compounds. If ingested directly, or licked from their coat after a walk, these can make dogs very unwell.
"how can i prevent this?"- Avoid letting dogs eat, roll in or play with rotting leaves or fruit. If their coats or legs become contaminated, rinse them after their walk.

‼️SEASONAL CANINE ILLNESS‼️
Seasonal canine illness (SCI) is a relatively newly described condition. It has been reported to occur in some areas of the UK between August and November. The cause is yet unknown and research is ongoing.
⚠️Dogs affected by SCI usually become sick within 72 hours of walking in woodland, signs include:
-Loss of appetite
-Vomiting
-Diarrhoea
-Abdominal pain
-Muscle tremors
Without early treatment, seasonal canine illness can be fatal.

‼️HARVEST MITES‼️
Harvest mites are tiny orange insects. They can be found near the ears, between the toes or in the armpits of dogs which have been in long grass or dense foliage. The mites cause intense discomfort and itching and can drive your dog crazy.

‼️FIREWORKS‼️
Fireworks are around a lot from Autumn to New Year, and frighten many dogs. They are a common cause of noise phobias in dogs with RSPCA data suggesting that over 60% of dogs show marked signs of distress when exposed to firework displays.
"what can i do for my dog during firework season?"-During times when you expect fireworks - keep your dog in during the hours of darkness. Be proactive in getting your puppy used to firework sounds. If your dog is usually severely affected by fireworks, give us a call and we will discuss options with you.

‼️MUSHROOMS, TOLDSTOOLS AND BERRIES‼️
Some species of wild mushroom and toadstool are toxic to dogs. They cause vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, collapse, neurological signs and organ failure. Some berries can be poisonous too.
"how can i prevent this?"-Do not let your dog eat mushrooms, toadstools or berries, if you suspect they have, call us immediately.

‼️RODENT POISON‼️
Colder weather can unfortunately encourage pests indoors, meaning it is more common for us to see cases of rat and mouse bait poisoning in dogs in the Autumn and winter months. The level of toxicity and risk depends on the type and amount of chemical ingested.

‼️CHOCOLATE AND SWEETS‼️
Thanks to Halloween leftovers and early Christmas purchases, there's often an abundance of chocolate and sweets in the house in the Autumn and Winter months. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, a stimulant (like caffeine) that is poisonous to dogs. Sweets often contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener which is also toxic to dogs.
"how can i prevent this?"-Keep all sweets and chocolate out of your dogs’ reach. If you think they might have eaten chocolate or sweets containing Xylitol sweetener, contact us for advice.

‼️PLANT BULBS‼️
During Autumn, many people start to plant bulbs in the garden ready for spring. Some of these, including lillies and daffodils, can be toxic to dogs.

As always, if you have any concerns please contact us immediately. Think S.P.E.E.D.

01/10/2024

It's Transformation Tuesday at Vets4Pets today!❤🐾🥰
We have been getting a little nostalgic recently, and revisiting old photos of our beloved pets... we would also love to see your furbabies' transformations!

Let's see your pets journey, from then to now!

27/09/2024

We can't believe Nibble, Nourish, Thrive is almost coming to an end! We’ve enjoyed every moment of sharing and learning with all of you. 🐹
But wait, there’s more! their final topic focuses on companionship—from bonding tips to the ideal diet, they’ve got everything you need to keep your furry friends happy and healthy.

Guinea pigs should not live alone as they love the company of other guinea pigs. Single s*x groups or pairs are ideal and littermates make the best companions. Male and female guinea pigs can live together but to avoid your guinea pigs mating, it is important to have the male neutered first.

Never keep guinea pigs and rabbits or chinchillas together. They have different food and housing needs and, sadly, could fight. Rabbits also often carry a bacteria called Bordetella Bronchiseptica which can lead to severe pneumonia in guinea pigs.

Did you miss their earlier posts? No problem, just scroll back to catch up!
And don’t forget, your likes, shares, and comments help raise awareness about guinea pig welfare. Join them in making a difference!

26/09/2024

We hope you're having a blast and enjoying !
It's day four, and today we're diving into Guinea pig health, from their peak to squeak. Let's talk about how your piggy's diet can affect their health!

A healthy guinea pig is alert and chatty, with bright eyes and a good coat. It’s essential to know exactly how they look and act when they’re fit and healthy – that way, it’s much easier to spot the subtle changes in behaviour and appetite that reveal something’s not quite right. As with all healthcare issues, prevention is better than cure.
To do the very best by your guinea pigs, make regular visits to your vet for routine health checks. This will ensure the early detection of clinical diseases and allow your vet to give more effective treatments.

Common health issues in Guinea Pigs are:
❌Dental Disease (&Incisors that do not align, overgrown molars, malocclusion)
❌Pododermatitis
❌Vitamin C deficiency
❌Fleas lice and mites
❌Flystrike
❌Colds
❌'Lumps and bumps'

https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/health/
Don't forget to like, comment, and share their posts with your fellow guinea pig lovers! 🐹

25/09/2024

🐹 It's day three of Guinea Pig Awareness Week 2024 - today we will jump into importance of a healthy diet for guinea pigs! 🥬

As exotic pets, they require a specialist diet to meet all their nutritional requirements. Wild guinea pigs naturally eat a diet of grasses, plants, vegetables and crops. They are herbivores and need high levels of fibre to keep their digestive system working correctly, their gut should be in constant motion with two types of fibre (digestible and indigestible). They get this fibre mainly from high quality feeding hay which should make up the bulk of their diet.🌱

This is how the process works:
• Indigestible fibre is moved through their digestive system and excreted as separate, hard droppings. This type of fibre keeps the digestive system moving and their appetite stimulated.
• Digestible fibre is moved up into an organ called the caecum – which is like a giant appendix. Good bacteria in the caecum ferment the fibre, making it easy to digest. This is then excreted as sticky droppings, called caecotrophs. Guinea pigs then re-eat
the caecotrophs so they can absorb the rest of the essential nutrients when they pass through a second time.

If guinea pigs don’t get the right amounts of both fibres, it can rapidly lead to serious health problems. Following the Excel 5-step Feeding Plan, will provide your guineas with the perfect daily balance of fibre and nutrition. Their teeth are designed to continually grow so need to be worn down naturally by fibrous, abrasive foods to avoid dental problems such as overgrown teeth which can be very painful for them. Hay is good for dental health as the gnawing action required to eat it helps to wear down their teeth.

Your guinea pigs' diet needs to be supplemented with plenty of vitamin C, as
they lack the enzyme needed to produce it and can only store vitamin C for short
periods. Vitamin C can be found in good quality, high fibre nuggets and certain fresh greens and vegetables and is important for healthy skin, joints and blood vessels.

❌❌❌NEVER feed your guinea pigs with human food – chocolate and dairy
products are particularly dangerous and citrus fruit can upset their sensitive tummies. Also avoid potato, nuts, onion and related vegetables, rhubarb, tomato leaves, buttercups, daffodils, poppies and tulips.
https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/diet/

24/09/2024

Happy day two of Guinea Pig Awareness Week 2024! 🐹

Today, we are sharing how you can create a thriving environment for your fluffy friends with the right nutrition. 🥦🥬🥒🫑

🏠 Your guinea pigs’ housing should be draught-free, predator proof and, along with plenty of bedding hay or animal safe paper bedding, provide a cosy place to sleep.
🏠 It should be as big as possible but an absolute MINIMUM of 5ft by 2ft to allow them to roam as they would in the wild.
🏠 Housing should just be viewed as your guinea pigs’ ‘bedroom’ and be permanently attached to a much larger run. These little rodents are active for up to 20 hours a day and sleep only for short periods, so they need plenty of space to exercise. If a ramp connects the hutch to a run, check it is wide enough and not too steep or your piggies may be too scared to use it.

As guinea pigs are a prey species, it’s essential to provide lots of safe hiding places in their exercise area – such as pipes, tunnels and guinea pig nest boxes – where they can escape if they feel afraid.
Deep piles of hay will allow for natural tunnelling behaviour. The housing should also have toilet areas separate to their sleeping area, you can use
bedding hay or straw and or a paper based, non-expanding litter.

(keep your eyes peeled for the post later on today
where we will cover Indoor/ Outdoor environments)

Don't forget to like, comment, and share their posts with your fellow guinea pig lovers! 🐹 ❤️


https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/enviro
nment/

23/09/2024

Conker season is here…🌰

As Autumn arrives, and the colder months creep in, you start to notice conkers (horse chestnuts) falling. While it’s pretty common for us to enjoy a game of conkers, we must not forget the dangers surrounding these and our beloved pets 🐱🐶

⚠️TOXICITY- conkers contain a chemical called aesculin, which is toxic to dogs and cats. It is found in all parts of the chestnut tree (including bark and leaves)

‼️ CHOKING HAZARD- their size and shape makes them a choking risk, and if swallowed, possibly an intestinal blockage.

🚫 PREVENT: always keep a close eye on your dog when in the garden, and out on walks. Be vigilant.

👉🏽📱 - if you are concerned your pet may have ingested a conker contact your vet immediately. Time is of the essence ⏰

23/09/2024

It's day one of Guinea Pig Awareness Week 2024 Today, we are diving deep into guinea pig behaviour.❤️

Guinea pigs are small and gentle-natured, but lively too. They love being stroked and rarely bite or scratch. They are curious and can be very vocal! They communicate using several noises, including the well-known ‘wheek-wheek’ call – a sign of excitement or to find a friend – and a low ‘purring’ sound, which they make when they are feeling content and chilled out. They also make a series of short ‘putt-putt’ noises when they are exploring.

Guinea pigs like to play, so make sure there are plenty of toys for them. Play makes them exercise, which is good for their physical health, and keeps them contented, which is good for keeping them happy and healthy.

Guinea pigs are natural foragers, so hide some food and your pets will enjoy looking for it. In addition to providing nutrition, foraging mimics their natural behaviour, keeps them occupied and prevents boredom.🥬

As guinea pigs are naturally prey animals, they need constant access to hiding places where they can go and be alone if they feel scared. In the wild, they live in close family groups of five to 10 individuals, though several groups may live in close proximity, forming a colony. Being a small animal, guinea pigs face all sorts of challenges and have many natural predators, which is why they avoid open areas without shelter and are on constant alert against potential danger.

Guinea pigs scent mark by rubbing their chin or cheeks across things, which helps keep their home smelling familiar and reassuring. This is why it’s important to make sure that you transfer some of the old bedding back into their accommodation when cleaning. They also drag their bottoms across the ground to leave scent secretions as messages, which are only understood by other guinea pigs.

They only sleep for short periods. Although crepuscular creatures, who are most active during dusk and dawn, guinea pigs are awake for up to 20 hours of the day. This means they need constant access to food, water, companion guinea pigs, safe hiding places and toys to keep them occupied, as well as an exercise area with tubes to tunnel along, shelters to hide in and deep areas of hay to forage in and nibble on

Like, share, and comment to keep the conversation going! 🐹✨
Follow the link below to read more :
https://guineapigalliance.com/guinea-pig-welfare/behaviour/

20/09/2024

Next week is GPAW (Guinea Pig Awareness Week). It is an annual campaign, brought to you by Burgess Pet Care, aimed at educating pet owners about the five welfare needs of guinea pigs. 🐹❤️

Traditionally guinea pigs have been thought of as children’s pets but while it’s lovely for children to enjoy the company of guinea pigs, the responsibility for any animal’s wellbeing lies with adults. Small animals are often more complex to feed and care for than a cat or dog and require more care and attention than a child can offer.

Next week we will cover:
Day 1 (Monday) will focus on- Behaviour, being able to exhibit normal behaviour.
Day 2 (Tuesday)- Environment, having a suitable place to live.
Day 3 (Wednesday)- Diet, A suitable diet that provides all the essential nutrients.
Day 4 (Thursday)- Health, to be healthy and protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Day 5 (Friday)- Companionship, to be housed in suitable pairs or groups.

Follow along on our socials to find out more!🐹❤️🐾

09/09/2024

🐾❤️🌈In remembrance of those who passed over the rainbow bridge in August 🐾 ❤️ 🌈

🐶 Brock
🐶 Cooper
🐶 Elsie
🐱 Gem
🐱 Jerry
🐱 Meg
🐶 Molly
🐶 Nelson
🐶 Rocky
🐶 Zeus
🐶 Rocky
🐱 Evie
🐱 Jasper
🐹 Smokey
🐶Buddy
🐶 Mimi
🐶 Blue
🐶 Kayak
🐹 Pistachio
🐶 Daisy
🐶 Scruffy
🐹 Smidge
🐶 Twinkle
🐶 Bella
🐶 Candy
🐶 Nala
🐶 Bella

🐾❤️🌈If you would like a name adding to our remembrance post, please let us know🐾❤️🌈

09/09/2024

September is national Pet Insurance month in America, however we feel it is also important to take part. It is a time when pet owners are reminded of the importance of safeguarding their furry family members against unexpected mishaps.

Pet insurance is a special type of insurance coverage designed to provide pet owners financial protection against expensive medical costs. It generally covers veterinary costs incurred by unexpected accidents, major illnesses, or diseases. This way, pet insurance lets you put your pets’ medical needs first without thinking of the cost. However, most people are either unaware of pet insurance or feel that it is not worth the monthly charge.

Unexpected accidents and illnesses can happen, but with pet insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that your pet's health is protected. Let's work together to ensure every pet gets the love and care they deserve, no matter the circumstances. ❤️🏥

06/09/2024

03/09/2024

This is Barney who visited us yesterday for his first set of vaccinations!🐶

Once Barney has had his 2nd vaccination in 2-4weeks he will be covered against:
⭐️Canine parvovirus (a.k.a. parvo)
⭐️Canine infectious hepatitis
⭐️Distemper
⭐️Leptospirosis

Any visit to the vet can be stressful, and puppies are often nervous, so we recommend bringing along their blanket or their favourite toy to give them a sense of security during the visit. You may also want to keep some treats on hand to reward them afterwards.

Many owners believe that once their dog has had their initial round of vaccinations, they’re protected for life. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Annual booster vaccinations are needed throughout your dog’s life to maintain their protection from harmful diseases. We will be seeing Barney again in a years time for his first booster!

Vaccination appointments are performed by a vet, and should be a part of the care of all dogs throughout their life, as they are preventative rather than curative.

If you are unsure whether your dog is vaccinated, please don't hesitate to call us on 01246 269666, where we will be happy to assist you.⭐️🐶

25/02/2024

When Kelly from our Colton store's Pets Grooming salon discovered a lump on the tail of nine-year-old Rufus she suspected something wasn't right, so alerted his owners Les and Andrea so they could get it checked out. They brought him to Vets for Pets Leeds Colton where it was confirmed he had a cancerous tumour which needed surgery.

Les, who adopted Rufus from Dogs Trust in Leeds as a puppy, said: “Rufus is such a big part of our life; we’re absolutely besotted with him. We probably wouldn’t have noticed the lump if not at the groomers as the tail isn’t somewhere you would usually stroke and feel. Kelly loves Rufus and really looks after him, so we want to say a big thanks for spotting it. Who'd have known what would have happened if she hadn’t noticed.”

Rufus had to have his tail removed, but is now making a good recovery. He's been visiting Kelly for a groom every six weeks for the last three years. She said: “You get to know everything about a dog as you groom them. I’ve discovered similar things before on other dogs so I mentioned it to the owners so they could get it checked out. Dogs are my life and you do worry; I’m so pleased they caught it. Now he’s got a fully docked tail like a little bunny rabbit. It’s lovely and suits him – when he gets washed he wiggles his bum.”

21/02/2024

Arthur's owner Louise says he "looked like a brand-new tortoise" after having his beak filed at Sutton in Ashfield Vets4Pets.

Louise adopted the four-year-old Horsefield Tortoise from a family member in October. Although she has had other pets, Arthur is her first tortoise, so she has been doing some research on how to best care for him.

Louise said: "I noticed Arthur's beak was unusually long, so I brought him in to Vets for Pets; I bring all my pets there. When he came out, I thought 'you beautiful boy, look at you – you look so handsome!"

Vet Steph, who looked after Arthur, says that tortoise beaks continuously grow and normally grind down themselves while they're eating. She said: "Arthur needed a little help as his jaw isn't perfectly aligned; his lower jaw is further out than his top jaw, so I filed it around half a centimetre. He was really good; a real cutie."

18/02/2024

Owner Claire says she couldn't be more grateful to Vets4Pets Hamilton after their quick diagnosis saved the sight of six-year-old Alba.

Claire knew there was something terribly wrong with her miniature dachshund cross when she called her in from the back garden last summer and Alba ran headfirst into a closed patio door. She rushed her to the vets, where investigations led the team to diagnose her with uveitis – an eye condition which causes inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.

Claire said: "It all happened so suddenly; Alba must have heard my voice and guessed where to go. It was quite scary seeing how bad she was. We couldn't be more grateful for the team in Hamilton spotting the uveitis as quickly as they did, otherwise Alba would have gone blind within a matter of days. Their knowledge saved Alba's sight. I still can't believe it happened. It's taken months of treatments, but it's such a relief to have our girl back to being her funny, bossy self."

Vet Neil, one of the team who treated Alba, said: "Alba's pupil was really narrow and wouldn't respond to light properly, which can be a sign of uveitis. Once we had ruled out other conditions, we were able to get her to an eye specialist for ongoing treatment. She's now doing really well."

16/02/2024

Ducky's owner Antonia was in a state of panic when she saw a fox had dug its way into the field where she keeps him – killing two of her other ducks and chickens.

Antonia was about to move her brood into their pen for the evening when she saw what had happened and noticed that Ducky had severe bite wounds under his wing. She rushed him to Vets4Pets Vets Milton Keynes for emergency surgery – and after having his wound stitched up the one-year-old duck is now making a good recovery.

Antonia said: "I was so worried. You don’t often hear of ducks recovering from fox attacks, but there is something about Ducky and the way he was so brave. I'm sure he was protecting a lady duck, as he's a bit of a romantic. It's the first time we've gone to Vets for Pets, and the team were amazing; they've done an incredible job."

Vet Becca, who treated Ducky, said: "He's a really lucky duck, as it was quite a big wound. When he first came in, he was understandably subdued and quiet but when he came back for his stitches to be taken out, he wanted to explore and tuck his head into everyone’s shoulders."

07/02/2024

Well done to the team at Vets4Pets Guildford who've been awarded a silver level certificate for being a rabbit-friendly clinic.

After head veterinary nurse Ella noticed that more customers were bringing in rabbits the practice took a series of steps to give them as stress-free an experience as possible. Ella, who also fosters rescue dogs in her spare time, said: "There was a long list of things that we needed to prove that we did from making sure the rabbits are kept separate from other animals and not booked in at the same time as barking dogs, to providing heated kennels for those who need to stay in, and using special equipment made especially for rabbits."

Practice manager Kevin said: "All of our vets have plenty of experience with rabbits we have some real rabbit geeks here, so it was a big thing to us. There are so many good people in this world and I'm so proud to be around them."